<p>i'm in IB SL biology. my teacher is uninvolved and has a reputation for letting students fail even the IB SL test. I am going to try to pass it on my own, and figured why not take AP Bio while I'm at it; two birds with one stone, and a guaranteed success on the SL.
Now, I have little to no biology background. I read a little bit in Cliffs, and so far I get along fairly well with the more concrete Evolution, Ecology, Animal/Plant structure, classification type chapters. The DNA and protein synsthesis type of stuff is a nightmare for me though. Cliffs, although thorough, uses jargon I can't get through. I'm thinking about getting Princeton Review to give me a general understanding of these concepts, and then supplementing it with necessary details from Cliffs.
I will not be doing labs or work in class, so this is all i've got. Does it seem a fairly solid study plan for a 4, or preferably a 5 in Biology? Otherwise, should I use barron's or kaplan? I need something that can give me a broad, basic, easy understanding- whatever is needed for the AP- of these things. Web links, anything, would help.
I'm also self-studying AP psychology and English literature (if you call that a course worth studying). They probably don't compare. Bio's a lot of info.</p>
<p>i didnt use any review books for AP Bio, but i've heard cliff's is the best. the campbell txtbook is the best one (tho its really long and in-depth, and u need to know what chapters to read and to skip). Barrons usually has the rep for giving the most in-depth review. PR tends to assume you know background stuff already and is for a quick review. I'd suggest a Cliffs/Barrons combo, and if u have the time, energy, and interest, getting the Campbell txtbook.</p>
<p>thanks, i don't know whether i'm willing to devote the time to campbells, but barrons seems good. Do you know whether it offers any...say.. "easy" explanations as well as in depth ones? Cliffs dives straight into it. Just need an intro the concept before diving in.</p>
<p>Jargon is a word that cannot be associated with biology terms without punishment from the Biology God. Jargon is a word that can be described as anything in the covalent bonding chapter in any AP Chemistry book. lol</p>
<p>;) yes. the worst for me has been protein synthesis, photosynthesis krebs cycle and stuff like that. The molecular thingies i guess. I think i read an excerpt from PR which seemed a lot less technical than cliffs....so i'll check out PR and barron's. thanks guys.</p>
<p>do you guys think reading/studying "cliff" along with (maybe) barron is enough to get 4 or 5? (no background biology concepts)</p>
<p>is Princeton Review for bio just plain bad and stupid, or does it really help retarded people like me grasp concepts on this test. reviews would be appreciated</p>
<p>yea....so is studying two review books more or less enough to get a 4 or 5 in bio.....what strategies did others use?</p>
<p>I'm not sure exactly what the PR book covers, but the CliffsAP book is definately not for someone with no Biology background. Can you use an intro biology textbook (like the one used for freshman biology) from your school to learn the basic concepts and then expand on it with the Cliffs?
With regards to Campbell's, I don't think its worth reading it completely, but if you can get a copy, you might want to look through some of the diagrams and drawings when you are reviewing. Also, see if you can find some old AP tests to review with (later in the year). Your teacher should have some, and if not, come back and post on this board and someone's bound to have them.</p>
<p>thanks for the tips :) i'm comforted about the cliffs issue. there are some parts i'm fine with, but others.......heh. was feeling stupid.</p>
<p>Campbell's is definitely worth reading cover-to-cover if you really like biology and don't mind length. For animals and animal diversity, I personally think Mader's is better. Cliff's is a good review book and can help someone pass the test, but if you're planning on going into a biology related major, I'd recommend buying Campbell's 6th or 7th and doing some reading.</p>
<p>I have a very good suggestion! I am taking AP Bio currently and my teacher rox... I am sure you can simulate the same experience by buying his CD! The link is </p>
<p>He makes songs so that biology concepts are easy to understand. I swear dude, you will get all the little concepts with those songs... the hooks will be stuck in your head! So don't worry about memorzing the Krebs cycle (it's to frikkin much to remember... LOL). My teacher also uses Campbell's latest edtion of "Biology." It's good but maybe a bit too involved. I do recommend reading the book, but follow chapters according the college board cirriculum... My teacher usually has us write 30 facts from each of the important chapters... Good luck! I can't wait to get my 5!</p>
<p>which portions of biology is covered in AP bio MORE?? cellular process(DNA, genetics and all that) or evolution and diversity stuffs??</p>
<p>DNA and Genetics</p>
<p>can i ask such a ratio.. or importance for ap exam in detail??</p>
<p>Cuz i'll take a cellular process course in CC and plan to just take a ap exam. I 'll probably look up rest of AP exam topics very.. casually (i wont be able to spend much time on this) Is it bad idea?</p>
<p>how's campbell's 4th edition?</p>
<p>cliff's note book by phil pack is the best. MEMORIZE IT THOROUGHLY. my teacher knew the guy who wrote it. as for campbell he is the chief reader so he will try to influence the test in his direction. His doctoral thesis was on archeabacteria and eubacteria so.......... know that. Good luck. bio was my hardest test- got a 5 but still</p>
<p>Cliffs is definitely the only way to go for AP Bio; it was the only thing I self-studied from and I got a 5. If you can't get through Cliffs though... well, maybe I'd reconsider trying to take the AP. But PR was good for the SAT II, so maybe start out with PR and then read through Cliffs? Don't just supplement from Cliffs though--definitely read it all the way through.</p>
<p>thanks for the helpful insight. i think i'll go ahead and just read cliffs a few times, maybe PR first for the general idea. when you studied from cliffs, did you actually "study" per se, drilling definitions,flashcard type of thing etc, or just read it over a couple times?
with no background, is this enough for a 5?
still have a few months.</p>
<p>ontolome- campbell's 4th will work, its a good text. vshang- some ap biology classes cover a lot more evolution and ecology than molecular biology, but yeah, on the ap bio test its usually more molecular. id say there are about 4 ecology/evolution questions to every 7 molecular or cellular processes questions. there are some diagrammatic questions also and lab questions and that makes up most of the rest. i was mad at the 2004 bio exam where life cycles of plants, algae and fungi and physiology of those organisms was not even barely covered.</p>